Vehicle loading device



March 28, 1939. E R, BARRETT 2,151,887

VEHICLE LOADING DEVICE Filed Deo. l, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l March 28, 1939. E, R, BARRETT 2,151,887

VEHICLE LOADING DEVICE Filed Dec. l, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR Zin/dri 7i qrref ATTORNEYS March 28, 1939. E. R BARRETT VEHICLE LOADING DEVICE- Filed Dec. l, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 if s March 28, 1939. EI R, BARRETT 2,151,887

VEHICLE LOADING DEVICE Filed Deo. l, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTORNE Ks.

March 28, 1939. A R. BARRETT VEHICLE:V LOADING DEVICE Filed Dec. l, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INI/ENTOR MMM Patented Mar. 28, 1939 VEHICLE LOADING DEVICE Edward R.. Barrett, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Gar Wood Industries, Inc.

ration of Michigan Detroit, Mich., a corpo- Application December 1, 1937, Serial No. 177,451

3 Claims.

My invention relates to loading devices, and particularly to a device for loading and packing material in a conned space such as a truck body.

Heretofore it was the practice to employ a conveyor system for loading garbage and other materials in vehicle bodies or like confined spaces. Such a. system is cumbersome, expensive to operate and delivers, but does not pack the material in the space.

In practicing my invention, I provide a tail gate for a vehicle body having a movable hopper thereon cooperating with a ram which forces the material from the hopper into the space to be loaded. While I have illustrated the device being utilized on a truck body for hauling garbage, it is to be understood that the hopper and ram combination may be employed for loading any material into a. space, either conned or partly so. The device may be automatically operated to have the hopper continuously moving toward and away from the ram to deliver the garbage or material thereto, and have the ram continuously moving the material from the hopper when in raised position and force it into the provided space.

No difilculty was experienced in packing 30 or 40 yards of garbage in a'body that held only 20 yards when the garbage was loosely conveyed therein. The mechanism for loading is not only materially simplified, reducing the operating cost, but the capacity of the body or space is actually increased 50 to 100% because the material is packed within the space.

The ram and hopper have an operating device associated therewith which is controlled from a power take-off unit driven by the engine of the vehicle for operating the ram and hopper directly from the vehicle engine. A suitable valve system is employed for controlling the actuation of the devices either continuously, or periodically each time the hopper becomes filled with the material.

Accordingly, the main objects of my invention are, to provide a hopper and a ram adjacent to a space to be filled which work in conjunction with 45 each other to force material placed in the hopper into a space provided therefor; to provide an end gate on a vehicle body having mounted thereon a hopper and ram which are actuated in synchronism to raise the material and force it within the 50 body; to provide a hopper on lan end gate of a body and the hopper is operated by hydraulic means to raise the material disposed therein adjacent to a ram which is also hydraulically operated andwhich forces the material from the hopper to within the body; and in general, to provide means for loading a body, which is simple in construction, positive in operation and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of my invention will be either specifically pointed out 5 or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of my invention to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a vehicle 10 body having a loading device thereon, embodying features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken end view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1 as viewed from line 2-2 thereof; l5

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, taken on the line 3--3 thereof;

Fig. iis a sectional view of the'structure illustrated in Fig. 2, taken on the line 5 4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical view of the main 20 control circuit employed with the loading mechanism illustrated in the various described views:

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a circuit employed with the hydraulic operating means for the loading elements;

Fig. '7l is an enlarged sectional view of a valve illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, similar to that shown in Fig. 2, of a modified embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view, taken in the direction of the arrow 9 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line III-I 0 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view 35 taken substantially along the line II-II of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along the line I2-I2 of Fig. 9.

The vehicle body I0, illustrated In Fig. Vl, is mounted on a chassis II of a truck, and isaof the enclosed type employed for loading, hauling and' dumping garbage. The rear wall I2 of the body is sloped and has an end gate I3 secured thereto 45 on pivots I 4. The end gate encloses the rear of the body and is secured thereto by suitable clamps I5 which are released when the material in the body is to be dumped. Hoists I6 are provided between the chassis II and the body I I) which are 50 extended to cause the body to rotate about the pivots I1 to raise its front end and permit the material to pass out of the rear opening, the end gate I3 thereof automatically swinging open after the clamps I5 are removed. The end gate I3 car- 56 ries a loading device in which the garbage is dis posed and automatically packed into the body I5.

Referring more particularly to Figures 2, 3 and 4, theend gate I3 is reinforced by suitable bracing elements I8 and I9 and an angle element'2l, all of which extend laterally thereacross. Intermediate the side edges of the end gate I3, spaced plates 22 are supported between which a hopper bottom 23 and a ram 24 are pivotally mounted for synchronized movement. The hopper is provided with a movable bottom member having a top arcuate surface 25 and a front adjacent arcuate surface 26, the latter of which is engaged by a lip 21 of an apron 28 which is also pivoted between the plates 22. 'I'he pivot 29 is disposed inwardly of the front edge of the apron to provide a weight preponderance vfor moving the apron into engagement with the arcuate surface 26. The arcuate surface 26 is struck on a radius from the pivot 3| of the hopper while the arc of the surface 25 is struck from the pivot 32 of the ram 24 when the hopper bottom 23 engages the end thereof.

An arm 34 is secured to each end of the pivot 3|` of the hopper bottom having a pivotal connection at 35 with piston rods 36 which project within cylinders 31 which are pivoted at 38 to brackets 39 mounted on the brace I9. The rods 36 extend through the pivotal connectors 35, the ends extending being provided with a spring 4| secured by a pair of nuts 42 which are in adjusted locked relation. The spring permits the movement of the pistons in the cylinders when the hopper bottom 23 has material jammed between the ram 24- and thereby prevents `damage to the operating structure.

The brace I8 is connected with the brace I9 by a pair of vertically disposed, spaced brackets 43 which provide a support for a cylinder 44 on a pivot 45. The cylinder carries a piston having a rod 46 projecting therefrom which is pivoted at 41 to a bracket 49 carried by the ram 24. The

movement of the piston within the cylinder rov tates the ram 24 about the shaft 32 to sweep the material deposited on the surface 25 into the space within the body I0 whenthe hopper bottom 23 is recessed. As more of the material is moved into the space it becomes packed therein by the ram, increasing materially the carrying capacity of the body.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a diagrammatical view of the main circuit and valve which is connected directly to the power take-ofi' device of the truck. Fluid is delivered from a pump `driven by the truck engine, throughs. conductor 5| into a valve 52 which may be turned to deliver uid `through a conductor 53 to the lifting jacks of the chassis or through a conductor 54 and valve' 55 to the circuit for controlling the operation of the hopper and ram.` When the valve 52 is delivering a fluid to the lifting jacks, fluid is cut oiI from the conductor 56 to the loading device to thereby prevent its operationwhile the body is raised. When fluid is delivered to the conductor 54 the valve 55 may be opened to have the loading mechanism continuously operate automatically or the valve may be opened to produce a single cycle of operation. A control circuit to the cylinders 31 and 44 is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 for the purpose of illus tration, it being understood by those skilled in the art that other control structure could be utilized for producing the synchronized operation.

When the valve 55 is opened, iiuid will be delivered to the conductors of the control system illustrated in Fig. 6. Assuming the hopper 23 and rain 24 to be in the position illustrated. that when both are withdrawn from the opening in the end gate, fluid will be directed through a conductor 51, through a valve 56 and a conn ductor 59 to the lower end of the cylinders 31 to cause the pistons and rods 3.6 to move upwardly and to cause the hopper 23 to rotate upwardly about the pivot 3|. A control arm 6I, xed to pivot 3|, strikes the plunger 62 of a valve 63 near the end of the upward movement of the hopper to direct uld under pressure through conductors 64 and 65 to the upper end of the cylinder 44. The downward movement of the piston and rod 46 actuates the ram 24 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 32 to sweep across the surface 25 of the hopper bottom and project into the opening in the end gate. During the downward movement of the piston. the huid therebelow in the cylinder will pass through a conductor 66 and discharge out through a valve 61 and a/conducto'r 68.

An arm 69 is secured to shaft 32 and is movable thereby to depress a plunger 1I of a valve 12 for energizing a circuit- 13 and delivering fluid to the upper side of the piston within the cylinders 31.` When the ram moves down, the fluid on the opposite side of the piston is released through the valve 58 and conductor 15. The downward movement of the pistons rotate the hopper bottom 23 in a clockwise direction about the shaft 3| to the position illustrated in the ligure. The actuating arm 6I depresses the plunger of the valve 61, reversing the ilow of fluid in the conductor 66 to thereby move the piston of the cylinder 44 upwardly. The fluid on the top of the piston of the cylinder 44 is vented through the conductor 65 through the valve 53, the posin tion of which was changed through the movement of actuating arm 6| therefrom to permit the iiuid to discharge through the conductor 16. 'I'his movement of the piston in the cylinder 44 retrieves the ram 24 from a position within the opening to that illustrated in the drawings, which completes a cycle of movement.

.During the final upward movement of the ram 24, the actuating arm 69 depresses the plunger ofthe switch 56 to permit fluid to be delivered to the lower side of the pistons within the cylinders 31 to effect the upward movement of the hopper bottom 23. The actuating arm 6I releases the plunger 61 and changes the conductor 66 from a delivery to a return conductor. Near the end of the upward movement, the actuating arm 6I depresses the plunger 62 of the valve 63, causing fluid to ow through the conductor 64. the valve 63 and conductor 65 to the upper end of the cylinder 44 to thereby effect the downward movement 'of the ram 24. At the beginning of the downward movement of the ram 24, the actuating arm 69 releases the plunger of valve 53 to thereby change the circuit 59 from a conducting to a venting circuit. Near the bottom of the stroke of ram 24, the actuating arm 64 depresses plunger 1I of valve 12 to provide a ilow of fluid through the valve and conductor 13 to the upper ends of cylinders 31 to cause the pistons therein to move downwardly to return the hopper bottom 23 to its initial position as illustrated.

In Fig. '1, I have illustrated the valve 63 in section with the plunger 62 depressed by the actuating element 6I against a spring 19. Fluid under pressure Vmay enter through conductor 64 through the valve 63 and out through the conductor 65. When the actuating element 6| is moved from the valve, the plunger 62 will move outwardly under the bias oi the spring 18. to have the conductor 88 connected with the'conductor 18 for returning the tluid to areservoir.

It will thus be seen that the control system for operating the ram and hopper in synchronism is extremely simple. produced by utilizing the two distinct positions of the ram and hopper bottom for controlling the position of the valves. The particular control system is shown more for the purpose of illustration,l and it is to be understood that other structure and modes of operation could be substituted for the structure shown.

In Figs. 8 to 12 a modified embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in which the hopper bottom and apron are lowered so that a greater amount oi material may be charged in the loading device. Also in this embodiment of the invention, the hopper bottom and apron forming the initial receiving receptaclerare resiliently mounted; and the hopper bottom is given a slight change in shape so that it may be wiped clean by the ram when the material is charged into the truck. Also, inthis embodiment of the invention, a slightly modied structure is provided for controlling the supply of fluid to the operating cylinders. This modified structure includes a pilot valve which controls the ilow of the fluid to the cylinders and by which the relatively large piping leading to the cylinder valves, as shown in Fig. 6, is dispensed with.

Referring to Figs. to 12 in detail, resilient means are provided for resiliently mounting the hopper bottom 23, at each side of the hopper bottom. 'I'he mounting means'at one side of the hopper bottom is duplicated on the other side of the hopper bottom and a detailed description of one side will sufiice for both. Resilient mounting means include downwardly directed brackets 82, which are secured to the transverse angle brace 2| at each side of the hopper bottom. The brackets 82 pivotally receive therein a transversely extending pivot rod 83 which has keyed thereto, at its ends, a rearwardly directed supporting arm 84. Each of the arms 84 is keyed to the pivot rod 83 so that upon movement of one of the arms. such movement is transmitted to the other arm through the shaft 83 and the two arms 84 will move together. The rearmost end of each arm 84 is resiliently supported by a downwardly directed bracket 85 which is secured at its upper end to the angle brace 2|. The bracket 85 has a sidewardly directed substantially horizontal supporting portion 86 which slidin-gly receives through an opening in the portion 86 an upwardly directed rod 81. The upper end of the rod is pivoted at 88 to the rear end of the arm 84; and a spiral spring 89 is interposed between the horizontal portion 86 and a washer adjacent the upper end of the pin 81 so that the rear end 88 of the arm 84 is resiliently supported. The piston rod 36 is resiliently connected to a pivot arm 90, which is similar to the arm 34 previously described. The arm 90 extends forwardly and has a hub portion 92 adjacent its forward end. The hub portion rests upon the top surface of the arm 84 and is pivotally connected to the arm 84 by a link 93. Both the support of the hub 92 on the top surface of the-arm 84 and the link 93 form. the support and connection for the arm 90 relative to the arm 84. The shaft 3| supports the hopper bottom 23 and is keyed to the arms 90 so that upon pivotal movement oi the arms 90 the hopper bottom is oscillated. The mechanism just described aiords a resilient support for the hopper bottom 23 so that any shock v may be taken up in this resilient support.

The front arcuate surface 25 of the hopper bot- `tom 23 is formed substantially straight and at the straight surface 95 is wiped clean by thel pointed rear edge 86 of the ram 24. The resilient support described above lalso takes up any shock incident to the engagement of t e element 88 with the surfaces 85 and 25. l

'An apron 88 which corresponds to the apron 28 is pivotally mounted on a pivot 88 adjacent its rear edge and is resiliently supported adjacent its front edge by means of aspiral spring 10|. The spiral spring I 0| is secured to the frame plate 22 adjacent its upper end by means of a bracket |02 and is secured at. its lower .end to the apron 88 by means of a bracket |03. A resilient strip |04 is disposed along and xed to the forward edge of the apron 98 and is adapted to resiliently abut against the outer arcuate surface 26 of the hopper bottoni 23 so that resilient engagement between the apron 98 and the bottom surface 28 is maintained during the operation of the hopper bottom.

The sequence of operations of the hopper bottom 23 and the ram 24 is the same in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 8 to 12 as that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6; but in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 8 to 12 a simplified valve structure is provided for controlling the iow of fluid to the cylinders. A double pilot valve |85 is provided, having a bottom spool valve |06 and an upper spool valve |08. Ihe pilot valve |05 is connected to the valves for the cylinders 44 and 31 by relatively small lead pipes (not shown) for actuating the valves for the cylinders. The valve |06 controls the actuation of the valves for the cylinder 31; and the valve |08 controls the actuation of the valve for the cylinder 44. 'I'he valve |06 is rotated to its proper position through a short arm |09 which projects into the path of a rod ||0. The rod I|0 is pivotally connected at its lower end to the rear end of the arm 90 so that it moves therewith. 'I'he upper end of the rod ||0 is threaded at H2 and is provided with adjustable nuts ||3 which are adapted to strike against the arm |08.

The valve |08 is provided with a pair of arms H4 and ||5 which control the actuation of the valve |08. A pair of rod members ||6 and ||`l are pivotally connected at their lower ends to the ram 24 and are threaded and provided with nuts adjacent their upper ends 'in the same manner as the rod ||0. The rod ||6 is adapted to actuate the arm ||4 and the rod ||1 is adapted to actuate the arm H5. The arm ||4 is the distributor control which controls the flow to the valves |06 and |08 to give alternate action.

In operation, assuming that fluid is being supplied to move the hopper bottom 23 upwardly, the rod I I0 moves upwardly and as the lower nut H3 strikes the arm |09 it is moved upwardly, cutting oil ow of iluid to the cylinders 31. Fluid is then caused to flow in the cylinder 44 to force the ram 24 downwardly; and as the ram 24 reaches its downwardmost position the arm IIS is rotated to out off flow of uid to the cylinder 44, and the arm ||4 is moved downwardly to cause the flow of fluid to the cylinder 81. 'I'he hopper bottom 23 is then moved downwardly and as it reaches its downwardmost position it actuates the arm I 08 to cut oil the flow of fluid to the cylinder 31. The arm ||4 is then in such a position as to permit flow ot uid tothe cyl inder u and-the cylinder Il is actuated to raise the ram 24 to its initial position. .The arms of the valve III `are then in their initial position and the operation is repeated.

A cover |20, having an opening |22 therein above the apron Il. is provided over the mechanism so as to keep the mechanism relatively tree of dirt.

While I have described and illustrated but a single embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions, additions and substitutions` may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the accompanying claims.`

I claim as my invention:

1. A `loading device embodying a hopper tor receiving a material to be loaded, a combined material packer and closure for `an opening to a space to be loaded. means for moving the bottom o! said hopper towards and from said opening, means for moving said combined closure and packer to and from said opening for engaging the material resting in said hopper and moving it into said space, and automatic means for moving the hopper bottom and the closure in synchronism in the following sequence; moving the closure from said opening; the hopper bottom towards said opening; the closure towards said opening to engage the material resting in said arenas? hopper and move it into said space; and iinaliy tor lowering the hopper bottom.

2. A loading device for a truck body including, in combination, an end gate provided on said body having an opening, a combined material packer and closure for said opening, means tor operating said combined packer-closure, a hopper disposed below said opening for receiving a quantity `ofvmaterial, a movable bottom for said hopper, means for moving said hopper bottom towards and from said opening, an apron disposfd adiacent'to and independent oi' the hopper bottom upon which material may be dumped when delivering thereto, and yielding means for constantly urging said apron in contact with said hopper bottom.

3. A loading device for a truck body, including. in combination an end gate provided on said body having an opening, a closure for said opening, means for operating said closure, a hopper disposed below said opening having a movable bottom, means for resiiiently mounting said hopper, means for operating said hopper bottom toward and from said opening in synchronism' 

